It’s easier to ride the same distance than run it if you’re overweight.

It has great medical benefits.

All great reasons. Today I wanted to look at why so many new cyclists end up quitting the sport after only a few rides or months.

Why Do New Cyclists Quit?

If there are so many great reasons for anyone to take up cycling, why do we so many newbie cyclists quit? While searching for a new bike, I saw so many new, or barely used bicycles, on Craigslist. They were listed as only being ridden once or only a few miles (many less than 50)? Here are a few reasons why I think new cyclists find it hard going and end up quitting.

Failed New Year’s Resolutions. We’re now into February and many people made some kind of exercise or weight loss resolution at the beginning of the year. I wonder how many are actually still following through with their plans? Too many people get caught up in the holiday season with big plans for exercise that are based on impulse decisions, made without end goals in mind, and with little thought about how they plan to pull them off. So, that shiny new bike they got for Christmas just sits there collecting dust in the garage.

They didn’t lose any weight right away. Too many expect to lose huge amounts of weight after only a couple of rides. Good weight loss is a marathon (to borrow a term from the runners) and won’t be achieved after a couple of rides.

They felt alone. Riding a bike while overweight takes some courage to do because they may have to get over some insecurity (see #4) or because they felt they were tackling it alone. Not having someone there alongside to either push them or hold them accountable can make it easy to quit. I ride alone a lot but it’s not because I want to. Work schedules, training plans, and other factors determine whether or not we can find someone to ride with. Joining a group or cycling club can help.

They felt insecure. A lot of people, especially those of us that are overweight, feel very uncomfortable in traditional cycling clothing and the insecurity people feel in going out in public dressed that way can be enough to force them to quit. It does take a little getting used to but those clothes have specific purposes (storage, support, comfort, safety, etc.). If you’re just riding around the neighborhood nothing says you need to be dressed to the nines in cycling garb. You can always pull on a pair of gym shorts over your cycling shorts.

They were rubbed the wrong way. I’m not talking about chaffing either. Too many ‘hardcore’ cyclists make beginning, or overweight, cyclists feel out of place. Some do it on purpose while others may not realize they do it. Newbie cyclists have just as much right and desire to be out on the roads and trails as anyone else.

They started out doing too much. I think this is one of the biggest reasons new cyclists quit. Too many start out riding five or six miles (or more) their first couple of times out. It’s not a problem because it feels so easy. Before long though they’ll wake up and wonder who set the grenade off in their crotch. They’re sore, chaffed, and in misery because they’re butt is sore and/or the inside of their thighs are raw. Starting out doing too much without letting your body (you’re butt or sit bones) get accustomed to it is a recipe for disaster. It takes time for your body to adjust to the stresses of cycling so you need to take it easy at first. That’s why when I started back riding on the trainer last week, after a five-month layoff, I only did short 20-30 minute rides that were basically me just spinning with no resistance. I had to build my tush’s endurance back up since I’d been out of the saddle for so long. Over the next couple of weeks I’ll gradually build up my time/distance after my rear has adjusted. Being properly fit to your bicycle is another huge part of this equation and something that we’ll talk about later.

Those are six reasons why I think new cyclists end up quitting the sport. I know there are a lot more and I want to hear about your experiences on this issue. What made you quit, almost made you quit, or what kept you spinning those cranks?

29 Comments

jodycb
on February 9, 2010 at 6:03 pm

I would say not having the right bike.

I had a bike for years and barely rode it. When I did ride it I didn't enjoy it that much. I ended up buying a new bike from a good shop that made sure I got one that fit me right, they explained the whole keeping the tires at the proper psi thing and it was like an epiphany. Suddenly riding wasn't an uncomfortable horrid thing.

Also… maybe I'm alone in this, but one of the things I like about cycling is that I can do it alone. Its some quiet personal me time. Sometimes it's exhausting humbling me time but it's fun nonetheless.

I would say though that starting anything new takes some commitment. Until you reach a certain tipping point with developing the habit, and finding routines and things that work for you, quitting is the likely outcome. You have to push really hard to escape the earths gravity and then you suddenly realize how great it is. (I'm probably being too dramatic.)

Awesome stuff. Bike fit is very important and if it's not correct can make cycling unbearable and painful. I'm like you in that cycling alone is good sometimes. There are times though that I wish I had a friend or two for those longer weekend rides. With regards to commitment I don't think you're being too dramatic. It takes commitment and self-discipline to want to make yourself better and once you back past the initial breaking in period, and develop a routine, it'll get easier.

There are times it would be fun to have someone to ride with. I really wish my husband was in to it. I would love to do some touring or out & back bike camping. He has tried to get in to it but says it's not for him. I don't really see myself doing much touring by myself.

I probably also don't love riding with other people because I don't have much experience with it & don't know the group riding etiquette. AND I am slow as hell.

Hi. I’ve been riding more Seriously for a couple of months now. I try and ride a couple of times a week and I’m doing about 20 miles each ride. I still feel quite saddle sore after a ride. Does this ever go away and how long until that tipping point comes?

Ditto Joycecb. Exacrtly on the bike and th .e alone time. I would add that I originally quite b/c I got to the point that it took too long of a ride to get a decent workout. The beauty early on is that you can have a short tried and feel good like you did sometimg
about rie ..thT ….e….

I have Diabetes Type II and cycling helps my medication keep my blood glucose under control. It is also helping with a healthy weight loss – not too quickly, but steady. Winter is the hard part as I am in a Northern state and put the bike in storage until Spring. I am not as dedicated to riding the stationary bike indoors but I still make the effort. My doctor was all for my riding, with the caution to take it slow. I rode alone, during the time of day when there wasn't much traffic. Once I am more confident this year, I plan to seek out other riders and maybe start doing some group rides. Riding is easier on my legs and feet than walking for this diabetic and the health benefits are wonderful!

Anita, thanks for stopping by and commenting. It's always great to see new faces.

It's awesome to hear a great example of how cycling is helping with your Type II Diabetes. I can understand about living up North and not being able to ride during the winter. I just started on a trainer myself and can vouch that it's not near as much fun as riding outdoors.

In case you didn't know, there's an organization that has both professional and amateur teams on which quite a few of the members have either Type I or Type II Diabetes. Here's their link info:

Bryan, I find it interesting that three of your reasons above relate directly to the rider and things in his/her(1,2,& 6), while the remainder relate to things that others either did or didn't do to reach out to someone new.

I think one of the hardest aspects of beginning or continuing any activity is having someone to guide and mentor you along. Let's face it…cyclists on the road are not generally the mentoring and nurturing types. Some of us lucky ones may have happened to have a friend who mentored and guided them along, but I'm betting that a lot of the people who gave it up were going it alone. What do you think?

Tracy, did I plan out splitting the reasons 50/50 like that? Not intentionally. I do believe it's a combination of things both within and not within the new cyclists control.

I believe you said it when you said, 'beginning or continuing any activity.” I also think it's important to have a mentor or someone who can help coach you along and I think you're spot on when you say that most cyclists on the road aren't mentoring and nurturing types. There are some out there though. The group that I belong to hear in Dallas is that way and has some great members.

Cycling groups/clubs can be so intimidating. It's for that reason that I didn't attempt to join any group rides when I was in Florida. I was overweight (still am), slow on the bike, and knew I wouldn't fit in with the large majority of riders on the group rides. In fact, most of the group rides were beyond my capability so I never attempted it. I got my first group riding experience here in Dallas when the group I belong to had their bike handling series each week in the summer. They weren't long group rides but it was a group of novices (like me) that were there to learn more about cycling and how to ride together. It was great and really boosted my confidence as a rider.

When I started back riding in 2008 I had to go it alone and used this blog to draw some support and motivation. It worked. I still have a long way to go but if I didn't have readers/supporters to be responsible to I'm not sure I would have kept going. It also helps that I love the sport of cycling.

This kind of leads into what I'm trying to do here at Biking To Live. I'm trying to create a better, healthier life for myself through cycling. I want to help others (like myself) who are weight challenged to improve their lives as well. That means writing articles geared to the newbie cyclist that are either informative, educational, or inspiring. And perhaps one or two of those grouchy 'pros' will see that there are some folks out there that who could use their help.

Today was my second time riding a bike ever! Luckily, my boyfriend is a professional mechanic, and longtime cyclist, and he has been helping me with all of the right gear to make it as comfortable as possible.

I think my biggest challenge is learning the rules of the road: What routes are available, how to change gears for going uphill/downhill, someone to check for cars when I’m still trying to figure out how to clip in, and pointing out other trivial things I may not have thought of, such as avoiding riding on the painted lines because they are slippery.

I don’t feel comfortable to go out on my own, and if it weren’t for my boyfriend being so willing to help me along and keep a slow pace for me, I’m not sure if I’d have the courage to go at all.

My husband and I are cycling newbies. We are starting off with bikes and helmets only…no fancy garb yet. Living in the country has it’s benefits for sure but we are finding the hills are more challanging than we thought they would be. I mapped out a comfortable 6 mile ride on what I thought was fairly flat. We rode it this morning and boy was I wrong! Heading out we realized that we were gliding more that peddling….meaning the ride home was going to be all uphill! Luckly we cut the ride out a little short and barely made it back!

I just started to ride a bike since the day my dad gave me the keys to his car 30 years ago when I was in high school. This is helpful as I dislike running/ jogging but like the last 2 rides I have taken to see if I would like to invest in cycling. I don’t want to invest only to quit. These ate helpful hints as I proceed forward. Great site too.

You are right. Feeling foolish is one of the main reasons newbie cyclists quit. Especially when you see the die-hard guys all dressed to the nines whizzing by you with a slight sneer on their faces!!! And I’ve fallen a couple of times, truly embarrassing. Luckily it was at five am in my neighborhood when no one was around to witness my humiliation and I landed in the bushes. At present I can only manage a mile around the block with knees screaming and lungs whining. However, after two weeks I am noticing it is getting slightly easier. This time next year I plan to be keeping up with the big boys and be 15 lbs lighter!

Yes, hostile drivers was the main reason I quit cycling when I moved into NYC. But biking is MUCH more accepted and expected by drivers now. I think being careful about the rules of the road helps a lot — that, and being very alert about what’s going on around you. I’m just starting again and am hoping it 4-wheelers won’t be as hostile as they were then.

I must say that as a beginner, I very much feel a part of the “team.” Every shop I have visited (4 or 5) has been more than helpful not only in regards to the sales they were attempting to make, but also in the encouragement that they provided me. I am overweight, and picked cycling as my vehicle to change. I expected resistance and have not seen it…yet. I will be a part of Biking Across Kansas in June, and I hope that the lack of snobbery continues!

The cost associated with the sport can be discouraging.
Eff those experts in their fancy gear 🙂 Everyone was a beginner once, that is what I remind myself. So far I love it and I think knowing someone who cycles and can answer questions you have is extremely helpful. A good friend rides and he is my go to. Also, having a salesman at the bike shop I bought at who was (and still is) patient with me and the many questions I have is wonderful. I really see him as a great resource and I have no problem stopping by and running things by him and I think it makes him feel great too!

Cost can be discouraging. When I started I had to shop smart and find stuff on sale and it usually wasn’t your “fancy” stuff. I still shop for cycling gear on sale but do appreciate that some of the “fancy” stuff is much more comfortable and functional. There are some places where you can find good gear that isn’t cost prohibitive such as Performance Bike.

I like that you have a relationship with your local shop. I have a go to shop that I get my maintenance, buy most of my stuff from and ride with on Saturdays. It’s hard for me to buy jerseys from them due to the sizing they carry so I’ll often find those online. If I could provide you a tip when dealing with your shop, find out what kind of beverage they like and drop it by after they have helped you out. A couple of weeks ago the shop owner helped me adjust my right cleat with shims and didn’t charge me a thing. I paid him back with a six pack in the shop fridge a week later. Its a way of saying thanks and building the relationship.

You are right about building a Relationship. I am a local businessman in my town and enjoy the people that shop with me. I do not mind helping someone understand more about my products, but enjoy knowing my time and knowledge is appreciated. I am not in the bike industry, however I try to buy locally as much as possible.

It’not the the weather it’s the gear you have. Even in cold nasty weather, with rain gear, such as rain covers for your shoes and helmet, water proof gloves, thin layers under your gear can really help. Wet metal and wind are the worst, not much you can do about those, or a surprise snow storm in the middle of my commute to work. I have tires thumb tacks can’t get through!! And a luggage rack. I can haul more then walking and less strain on my back and when I take bus bike trips, I can explore a lot more and be quicker and more efficient. The comments above are right the right bike makes a huge difference. I rod around cheap crummy bikes and they fell apart quickly and the cheap gear is bad. I have a high quality bike with seat at a perfect height for power, but not to tall so I can’t get on and it has bean great since, few problems and rims have lasted three years, thousands of miles and rugged use. They came with the bike!

I just found this post as I’m just getting into cycling. I am by no means great at it or anything. I ride a “cheap” Toys R Us bike. I only cycle 20 km per day (10 in the morning and 10 in the afternoon). I first started out with only 7 km in the afternoon to supplement my walk I did in the morning. I needed more cardio to help with my weight loss. My first few rides were torture. My sit bones felt like I had blisters on the bones themselves, my lungs felt like bursting, my legs felt like jelly. I almost, ALMOST gave up. All I thought about was the awful uphill road back home. I had to change my way of thinking. Stop thinking about that uphill climb, in the headwind no less. Start thinking about how GREAT I felt for hours afterwards. My lungs felt cleaner and my heart beats slower in the evening. Now I love it! Bring on that uphill climb! I changed to two cycles in a day because of a foot injury. I needed an exercise that didn’t involve weight bearing. Cycling fits that. I’ve since lost 44.5 lbs and am considering getting more ‘serious’ about it and buying some real biker clothes. At the moment I just wear regular gym clothes. I’ve also gotten brave and put lights on my bike and have been riding in drizzly weather. I’m also taking my bike in for its first service. For some reason I’m proud of that LOL! Lame isn’t it!

Hi Danelle, do you mind telling me your starting weight? Just curious how long it took you to lose the 44 pounds…I’m on day 27 5 to 15 miles a day haven’t weight yet and looking for some inspiration! Thanx!

Cycling has changed my life. I gave up 7 years ago after having a bike accident. However have got back into it after being diagnosed with type 2 diabieties. In last 12 months have lost 28 kg (60lb). No longer need medication. I also changed my diet but just look forward to getting on the bike. I started slowly riding about 10ml (15km) but have now done 5 x 100km rides.

Hi. Great article. I won’t go into lengths with my story but, suffice to say, does anyone have any hints & tips or recommend any articles for motivating an overweight partner into joining the other half (me) in getting into cycling? You wouldn’t believe the repeated backlashings I receive from even softly, softly trying to make things happen.

That said, my wonderful wife has recently been fantastic! Two months ago, she wouldn’t even get on a bike. Bit by bit, one mile at a time, we are now up to 9 miles, on flat, at 6mph average.

Everything is still ‘a fight’, with every excuse possible used. But at least she is out there, doing it. Although more out of duty and pressure I fear.

I KNOW that she can do it. To become fit again. Perhaps not to her svelte pre-kids size but, I know (desperately hope) that we will get to the point where we can tootle along together with pleasure and not with gritted teeth and in silence.

Hi, loved the article. I have recently purchased a bicycle, and have been riding back and forth to work each day for the past several weeks. Not feeling the saddle soreness, and I know my bike isn’t properly set up! But I am enjoying the experience nonetheless. It would be great if there were more people in the area that rode, and if the local traffic here wasn’t blatantly hostile towards bicycles! Anyone got any beginner tips on how my seat and gears should be set up?